tidying

Smiley Jeison is one of the standout staff at the North Queen Street location of The Home Depot Canada.

Spring always inspires me to do a deep clean of my spaces, both inside and out. I often use basics like vinegar and baking soda, but when I need to tackle a more serious problem, I need a place that will help answer my questions and have the solutions I need. With a wide range of domestic and professional grade products and a keen commitment to customer service, I head to the Home Depot.

Whether moving homes from Montreal to Toronto and deciding on paint colours, to choosing hardware when upcycling furniture for Habitat for Humanity’s charity efforts. Most recently I wanted to learn more about removing mildew. There is one stubborn spot in my second bathroom that just isn’t coming clean.

Robust cleaning aisle at The Home Depot on North Queen Street, Toronto.

Well-marked, I find the cleaning aisle quickly and within seconds, orange-vested Laima, who was happy to help answer my questions. I asked her to help me understand which product would be most effective. She showed me a range of products from brands I was familiar with, to more powerful products suitable for commercial use, sharing her experiences regarding the relative efficacy and suitability of each product.

Unfortunately, Laima wasn’t so keen on having her photo taken, but trainee, Jeison, was more than happy to oblige.

I asked Laima about what was new and interesting in the world of cleaning and clearing products. Here are a few of the treasures we found:

Natural oil fragrances with no harmful chemicals to add a variety of aromas to your space.

Room fragrance from Bed &Bath Sticks at The Home Depot.

When it comes to clearing in the garage and garden, the tools you choose can make a tedious task more comfortable. I adore this very wide aluminum dustpan. It catches everything you bring at it with a regular size broom and fits within the width of a wide leaf bag, making cleanup a breeze. In this case, bigger is better.

The Quickie Aluminium 17″ Dustpan makes for faster cleanup.

It fits perfectly into large leaf bags.

If bending down is a challenge, this dustpan, which I often see in commercial applications allows for a more comfortable clean up.

Reduce the need to bend down with the Upright Lobby Dustpan from Rubbermaid at The Home Depot.

When choosing a supplier, be sure to consider their offering, availability of service, flexible policies, proximity and if necessary, shipping/delivery. The more of your needs that are met, the more productive the experience.

I work with organizations to deliver sustainable performance. If you know of a forward-thinking company who wants to achieve objectives and help their leaders and teams avoid disengagement and burnout, we should talk.